Employee Retention: Tips for Keeping Employees Happy

Happy, engaged employees are more productive. They’re more likely to stick around. They’re more likely to say great things about you and your company.

But not all companies have budgets that include thousands of dollars designated for “happiness.” You might not have a ping-pong table or gourmet lunches. But, even without all those perks, you can create an environment that’s honest, fun, and flexible.

Here are a few ideas:

HONEST

Communicate transparently. Employees want open and honest communication for both good and bad news. They also want to understand the big picture. Involve them in projects that they aren’t directly responsible for to gain interesting input.

Clearly define goals. Being able to track progress helps employees feel in control. They have a purpose and they can check their progress.

Give feedback often. Timely and objective coaching will help good performers keep growing.

Help workers focus on work. Make meetings shorter. Teach employees how to streamline emails.

FUN

Help employees bond. Employees will stay if that’s where all their friends are. So, help them bond with co-workers. Create a no email day once in a while, so employees must communicate in person. Lunches and cookouts or a day at the ballpark will give everyone a chance to get to know each other better.

Make sure new employees feel welcome. Don’t let a new hire spend his or her first day in HR. Host a get acquainted lunch or department breakfast. Give the new employee an opportunity to meet people within the department and beyond.

Reward performance — tailor it — celebrate it. Praise brings joy. Make employees feel good about the work they do. Thank them either with a note or verbally. Find out if they are more motivated by private or public recognition. If your employees go out to lunch, book a reservation somewhere. Take them out for a drink if they’re a happy-hour group. Celebrate the successes in a big way — throw a party. Dress up. Have fun.

FLEXIBLE

Offer flexible work options. Telecommuting, job sharing, and compressed workweeks give employees options. As long as they communicate their schedules and get their work done, giving this freedom shows trust.

Allow creative solutions. If an employee comes up with a viable solution to a problem, don’t squash it. Give employees autonomy to solve problems … without rigid guidelines.

Offer new responsibility. Open communication will enable managers to recognize untapped skills and give employees a chance to use them. Some employees don’t want to do the same task over and over again. Some enjoy the challenge of new responsibilities.

Encourage career development. Show employees they are important to you by giving them chances to learn new things and better ways to do their jobs. How about offering training sessions with a free pizza lunch?

Keeping employees happy is worth the effort — and it can make the difference in your company’s success.